Regulation 18 Draft Local Plan

(1) Guidance regarding site allocations and planning permission applications in a Biodiversity Opportunity Mapping context

Green infrastructure mapping (GIM) developed by the Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership identifies habitat which has potential to provide benefits as part of a multifunctional network of green and blue space.

All policy and decisions should consider the impact of development on these spaces and the potential they have to provide wider benefits. Where possible, permitting proposals which may negatively affect high quality components of green infrastructure networks should be avoided and enhancement of these sites should be promoted. It should be noted that high quality components of the network should also be protected as priority habitat and will likely be an important component of South Kesteven's ecological network as identified in biodiversity opportunity mapping prepared by the GLNP. Where possible, opportunities to manage green infrastructure highlighted by mapping should be taken to enhance the wider network and make the most of potential benefits provided through the design of permitted development. Good design can ensure that green infrastructure is not only protected, but is enhanced to help meet multiple objectives such as climate change adaptation, flood management and creating healthy places.

Biodiversity net gain should prioritise onsite habitat creation and management over offsite. Where land earmarked for development contains, either partially or entirely, any areas highlighted by the GIM, these should be seen as opportunities to contribute to onsite biodiversity net gain requirements in a way that will provide wider benefits for the local community and broader landscape. However, it should be recognised that green infrastructure identified by the GIM, which is not part of a development area, is well placed to contribute towards any required offsite biodiversity net gain commitments for development in a way that provides wider benefits through nature based solutions.

(1) Notes on suggested principles

• For the purpose of this document "habitat creation" refers to semi natural or natural habitats, including sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) and green roofs and walls.
• Any habitat creation or management should take a biodiversity first approach and be ecologically appropriate.
• Ecological advice should be sought in the preservation and enhancement of green infrastructure networks and achievement of biodiversity net gain.
• Principles relate to the value of mapped areas regarding green infrastructure, further protections may be in place, for example local site designation, priority habitat and ecological network.

(2) Development Principles

Where allocated sites or sites submitted for planning permission contain or overlap with any high quality green infrastructure, the following principles should apply:

1. Proposals should seek to enhance the network of green infrastructure.

2. High quality green infrastructure consists of Priority habitat. They should not be built on and should be buffered against impacts of development. Where development is permitted on land containing areas of high quality green infrastructure, the development layout should use the principles of the Mitigation Hierarchy and be designed in such a way as to avoid damage to these areas. Development should also be designed in a way which enhances high quality green infrastructure and makes appropriate and sustainable use of any benefits green infrastructure provides.

3. High quality green infrastructure should be recognised as a potential opportunity to achieve biodiversity net gain requirements by improving condition through sensitive management. This should be done in a way which enhances the value of green infrastructure in regards to its wider benefits where appropriate.

Where allocated sites or sites submitted for planning permission contain or overlap with any opportunities to manage green infrastructure, the following development principles should apply:

1. Proposals should seek to enhance the network of green infrastructure by taking opportunities to manage green infrastructure.
2. Proposals should avoid any loss of opportunities to manage green infrastructure where possible.
3. Where this is not possible, development design should ensure that the wider potential for benefits, including biodiversity, to be delivered by green infrastructure is not undermined.
4. Where appropriate, proposals should seek to fulfil onsite biodiversity net gain requirements through the creation, enhancement and sensitive management of green infrastructure, in a way that will enhance the network and provide wider benefits for biodiversity, the community and beyond.

(1) Relevant NPPF Policy

20. Strategic policies should set out an overall strategy for the pattern, scale and design quality of places (to ensure outcomes support beauty and placemaking), and make sufficient provision for:

d) conservation and enhancement of the natural, built and historic environment, including landscapes and green infrastructure, and planning measures to address climate change mitigation and adaptation.

96. Planning policies and decisions should aim to achieve healthy, inclusive and safe places and beautiful buildings which:

c) enable and support healthy lifestyles, especially where this would address identified local health and well-being needs – for example through the provision of safe and accessible green infrastructure, sports facilities, local shops, access to healthier food, allotments and layouts that encourage walking and cycling.

159. New development should be planned for in ways that:

a) avoid increased vulnerability to the range of impacts arising from climate change. When new development is brought forward in areas which are vulnerable, care should be taken to ensure that risks can be managed through suitable adaptation measures, including through the planning of green infrastructure;

181. Plans should: distinguish between the hierarchy of international, national and locally designated sites; allocate land with the least environmental or amenity value, where consistent with other policies in this Framework; take a strategic approach to maintaining and enhancing networks of habitats and green infrastructure; and plan for the enhancement of natural capital at a catchment or landscape scale across local authority boundaries.

192. Planning policies and decisions should sustain and contribute towards compliance with relevant limit values or national objectives for pollutants, taking into account the presence of Air Quality Management Areas and Clean Air Zones, and the cumulative impacts from individual sites in local areas. Opportunities to improve air quality or mitigate impacts should be identified, such as through traffic and travel management, and green infrastructure provision and enhancement. So far as possible these opportunities should be considered at the plan-making stage, to ensure a strategic approach and limit the need for issues to be reconsidered when determining individual applications. Planning decisions should ensure that any new development in Air Quality Management Areas and Clean Air Zones is consistent with the local air quality action plan.

(Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (2023) National Planning Policy Framework )

^[2] Natural England (2021) The Biodiversity Metric 3.0: Technical Supplement